Scene 1

The moated grange at St. Luke’s.

(Mariana; Boy; Duke; Isabella)

The Duke comes to visit Mariana, and Isabella joins them. She has made the arrangement for a meeting with Angelo, which is to be brief and conducted entirely in the dark. Mariana agrees to the plan to go in Isabella’s place and to remind Angelo to spare Claudio; the Duke reassures her that since she and Angelo were affianced, there is no sin in all this. (76 lines)

Enter Mariana, and Boy singing.

Song.

BOY.

Take, O, take those lips away,

That so sweetly were forsworn,

And those eyes, the break of day,

Lights that do mislead the morn;

But my kisses bring again, bring again,

Seals of love, but seal’d in vain, seal’d in vain.

Enter Duke disguised as a friar.

MARI.

Break off thy song, and haste thee quick away.

Here comes a man of comfort, whose advice

Hath often still’d my brawling discontent.

Exit Boy.

I cry you mercy, sir, and well could wish

You had not found me here so musical.

Let me excuse me, and believe me so,

My mirth it much displeas’d, but pleas’d my woe.

DUKE.

’Tis good; though music oft hath such a charm

To make bad good, and good provoke to harm.

I pray you tell me, hath any body inquir’d for me here today? Much upon this time have I promis’d here to meet.

MARI.

You have not been inquir’d after. I have sat here all day.

Enter Isabel.

DUKE.

I do constantly believe you. The time is come even now. I shall crave your forbearance a little. May be I will call upon you anon for some advantage to yourself.